Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2022

An attractive bouquet with aromas of sweet red apple and peach, there’s some apricot and baking spice qualities, a light toasty wood quality and light mineral quality. Smooth and creamy on the palate with some fine tannins then acidity offering a light chalky texture before flavours of orchard fruits, apples and peaches return. Balanced and well made, ready to drink from 2023 through 2026. Premium. Score – 90. (Cameron Douglas, MS, camdouglasms.com, Jan. 16, 2023)